Inverting apparatus



Oct. 18, 1966 F. J. AVERY ETAL 6 INVERTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 7, 1964 6 F 2 w 1/ 3 T|ivlill .4 v 1% 0 7 nrw man) 4 4 8 3 7 n@ .UQ 9 8 8 w M x J1 :WML/ -ill LMV: I --IM.,.H ,,M.HMH.HM .MUHHWHMM 1. my VU ...n....WIM WlriMHHH 6% 8 2 W 0 4 O w 2 4 3 \l n J 2 9 H Oct. 18, 1966 F. .1. AVERY ETAL 3,279,635

INVERTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 /Nvf/vra/as /wf d. Avi/w H060 1.. KUEHL rH/w Oct. 18, 1966 F. J. Avr-:Y ETAL 3,279,635

INERTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 18, 1966 F. J. AVERY ETAL 3,279,635

INVERTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Deo. '7, 1964 F E, l.

24 I; 80 Y it Wm @a `Oct. 18, 1966 F. J. AVERY ETAL 3,279,635

INVERTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. '7, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 18, 1966 F. J. AVERY ETAL 3,279,635

INVERTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 230 /fwf/vrams F/efo .1. AVERY E H000 L. frz/6HL ma QMWM,

W @ggg United States Patent O 3,279,635 INVERTIDIG APPARATUS Fred J. Avery, Oak Park, and Hugo L. Kuehlthau, Maywood, lll., assignors to Materials Transportation Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,403 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-313) This invention relates to improved apparatus for substantially completely inverting containers having open upper ends in order to empty the contents therefrom and it particularly .relates to improved apparatus for lifting and rotating containers of material, such as ground meats and certain powders such as dross-iron powder through substantially 180 and interlacing materials for emptying7 the containers of the material.

There are many types of apparatus available for emptying the contents of containers. Among these types are apparatus wherein the bottom of the container itself opens up and apparatus wherein there is a partial rotation of the container in order to spill out the contents. The type having an opening-bottom is not satisfactory for many types of materials, although substantially all the contents may be removed from the container. In apparatus wherein the containers are partially rotated, such containers are adapted for use with most materials, but since the inversion is substantially less than 180, the material in the container is often only partially removed therefrom so that this type of apparatus has a significant drawback. For example, in the packing industry, ground meat such as sausage and hamburger and powders of all kinds are placed in containers and held for certain periods of time. In order to empty these containersthe container must be `rotated more than 135. However, in all known apparatus for emptying these containers, the .rotation does not approach 180 and often all the contents are not removed.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for completely inverting containers having an open upper end in order to empty the 4contents therefrom wherein the disadvantages `of prior art constructions are substantially avoided.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved inverting apparatus wherein containers for substantially all types of material -are rotated through substantially 180 and may then be agitated or shaken so that the containers have substantially :all contents removed therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for inverting containers through subtantially 180 in order to empty the contents therefrom wherein the 180 rotation is accomplished after lifting the container by initially moving the carriage for the container arcuately and then completing the rotation thereof by separate means which tilts the container with respect to the carriage.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved inverting apparatus for emptying the contents from open upper-ended containers wherein such apparatus is characterized by its simplicity and economy of construction and operation.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

A particular embodiment of the present invention is illustra-ted in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of our inverting apparat-us wherein the container is shown in the 'lowered position and is also shown in phantom view in the inverted position;

FIGURE 2 is a slightly enlarged, end elevational view of our improved inverting apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

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FIGURE 4 is a side elevational, fragmentary View of the upper portion of our improved inverting apparatus wherein the container is shown in the inverted position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, our improved inverting apparatus indicated generally at 10 is provided with a substantially horizontal base portion 12 `which rests upon the door. The base 12 includes a pair `of spaced elongated supports or :angle irons 14 which are joined together by one or more `cross members 16, which are secured, as by Welding, to the spaced supports 14. The base 12 is of heavy steel welded construction and supports the inverting apparatus 10 in a substantially upright position at all times, including when the container C has been placed in the inverted position, such as shown in FIG- URES l and 4.

Secured to the spaced members 14 of the base 12 are a pair of upright guiding track members 18 which are maintained substantially parallel or in spaced relationship with each other. A diagonal brace 19 is welded to the outer portion of each track 18 and to each member 14. The tracks 18 are secured, as by welding, to the base supports 14 in close proximity to the place where the cross members 16 are joined to the base supports 14; both ythe cross member 16 and the upright track members 18 are located intermediate the center of the supports 14 yand one of the ends thereof, that is, towards one end of a support 14. The track members 18 are channelshaped in cross-section and open interiorly towards each other so as to form guide tracks for the roller members 20. It is an important feature that each track member 18 have an arcuate upper portion 22 which is channelshaped in cross-section and is actually an arcing continuation of the straight portions of the track members 18. The track members 18 are held in the desired substantially parallel relationship by means of intermediate and upper cross-support assemblies 24 and 26. Both the intermediate and upper cross-supports 24 and 26 include a pair yof forwardly and outwardly extending arms 28 which are secured, as by welding, to the outer surfaces of the track members 18. The arms 28 are joined together, again as by welding, to cross arms 30. Thus, the cross-support assemblies 24 and 26 and the base 12 cooperate to maintain `the track members 18 in a substantially upright position and substantially parallel to each other.

A carriage 32 is movably carried by the track members 18 and acts to lift the container C upwardly and also to effect a partial or initial rotation thereof. The y.carriage 32 includes a pair of spaced, substantial-ly parallel welded frames 34. Each frame 34 includes an upright `angle member 36 and -a lower arm 38 which is at substantially right angles -to the upright member 36. A diagonal brace 40 joins the upright member 36 to the horizontal arm 38 in order to provide fora rigid assembly. Each frame 34 is joined to the other frame 34 in substantially parallel position therewith by means of an elongated tubular crosssupport 42, located at the lower corner of the frame 34 and by an upper cross-support 44 joining the upper portions of the upright legs 36 together. The cross-supports 42 and 44 thereby cooperate with the spaced trames 34 to provide a rigid carriage assembly 32.

Roller members 20 are `rotatably `carried by the carriage 32 and enable the carriage 32 with the container C thereon to be lifted up and down the track members 18. An upper set of roller members 20 is secured to an upper shaft 46 which is carried by the carriage 32 and a lower set of roller members 20 is secured to a 3 lower shaft 48. Each of the shafts 46 and 48 is yrotatably carried by tubular members 50 or journals 50 which are secured, as by welding, to the upper and lower portions carriage 32 and is positioned interiorly thereof. The con` tainer holder 54 includes a pair of spaced welded frames 56, each of which includes an upright arm 58 and a rearwardly extending lower member 60, the arm58 and lower v horizontal member I60 being at substantially right angles to each other. `Each frame 56 is also provided with a rearwardly extending arm 62 which is secured, as by welding, to the upright arm 58 at the upper portion thereof. Each arm 62 is held rigidly on the frame 56 by `means 4of an angle brace 66 `which is Welded at one end to theV rear portion of the arm 62 and at the other end to the rear of the horizontal member 60.

The container holder 54 is rotatably carried by the carriage 32 by means of tubular journal members 68 which are welded to the upper and outer portions of the upright arms S8 of each frame 56. The journal 68 are rotatably carried by the upper rod 46 which is mounted on the lifting carriage 32 to thereby provide for rotatable movement of the container holder 54 on the carriage 32. The provision of a rotatable -container holder 54 within the carriage 32 is an important feature of our invention since it permits the substantially complete 180 inversion of the container C, as will be hereinafter shown in greater detail. WhileV the apparatus as shown is adapted for loading of the `containers from one end, it will be apparent that by slight modifications of the structure it could be adapted for loading of the containers from the sides.

The container C is securely held in place on the container holder 54. The base or bottom of the container C rests on the horizontal members 60 and the outer surface thereof abuts the upright arms 58. To secure the container C to the holder 54, clamps 70 are provided. Re-

ferring to FIGURE 2, each clamp 70 includes a vertically slidable or adjustable rod 72 having an inwardly extending arm orflange 74 welded at substantially right angles thereto. The arm 74 is placed in abutting relationship with the upper flange F of the container C. In order to adjust the clamp 70, an upright tubular member or sleeve 76 is welded to each rearwardly extending arm 62 and slidably receives the rod v72. A tightening arm 7,8 is` threadably or rotatably carried by the sleeve 76 and upon vertical adjustment of the rod 72 and arm 74 with respect to the ange F, the tightening member 78 is turned so as to bear against the rod 72 and hold it in position whereby the container C is held in rm engagement with the container holder 54.V

In order to raise and move the carriage 32 with the container holder 54 yand container C in place thereon along the track members 18, a hydraulic cylinder 80 is provided. The lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 80 is afl'xed to a plate 82, which in turn is secured toA the cross support 16 of the base 12, and the. hydraulic cylinder is `thereby maintained in a substantially upright position. The cylinder 80 includesfa piston'rod 84 which reciprocates within the cylinder 80. The upper end of the reciprocating rod 84 includes a transverse sprocke-t support member 86. Apair of sprockets 88 are secured to the opposite ends of a shaft 87 which is rotatably carried by journals 89 in the support 86. The sprockets 88 engage a pair of chain members 90. One end of each chain 90 is secured to a non-moving support, such as the intermediate cross-support member 24 for the tracks 18. The opposite end of each chain 90 is secured to a chain anchor 92 which is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the tubular cross-support 42 of the carriage 32. Roller members 29 are secured to the shaft 87 and ride in the upright tracks or piston rod guides 27. The guides 27 are fixed to the base 12 and also to the upper track support 26 and are thereby held in an upright position. Thus, as the hydraulic cylinder 94` is operated by Vsuitable drive means (not shown) the piston rod 84 is driven upwardly in guided movement and as the sprockets 88 engage the chains 90,v the chains are lifted upwardly whereby the carriage,

through the anchors 92, is also lifted upwardly along they guiding track member-s 18.` The cylinder 80 'raises' the carriage 32 together with the holder 54 and `container C upwardly and also causes a partial rotation of the .carriage 32, holder 54, and container C upon movement of the upper roller members 20 along the arcuate upper portion 22 of the track members 18. This causes the desired preliminary or initial pivoting of the container C.

In order to complete the rotation or inversion of the container C through about 180, one or more cooperati ing hydraulic cylinder members 94 are provided. The

lower ends of the hydraulic cylinders are pivotally secured at 96 to an end of the horizontal portions or arms 38 of the carriage 32 which is opposite to the pivoting of the holder 54 vto the carriage 32. Each extensible hydraulic cylinder 94 includes a reciprocating piston rod 98 which is pivotally carried by a support bracket -100 secured to each of the arms 62 of the containery holder frames 54. Thus, after the hydraulic cylinder has moved the upper rollers 30 through the arcuate portions 22 of the tracks 18, the drive means (not shown) for the hydrauliccylinder 80 is stopped by suitable means, such as a limit switch (not shown), which may also activate the drive means Y (not shown) for the hydraulic cylinders 94 which pivot the container holder 54 about the `upper pivot rod 46.

The hydraulic cylinders 94 cooperate `to complete thedesired substantially complete inversion of the containerl C through approximately yBy this substantially com` plete inversion of the container C, Vsubstantially all contents of the container C are emptied therefrom, which was` not possible in all known prior art constructions. After the dumping has been completed, the mechanism is re..- versed and the carriage is lowered to the starting posi-- the'container C and its holder 54. It is seen that the ap-y paratus 10 provides a highly economical and simple con- .struction which is al-so highly efficient and simple in use.

Referring to FIGURE 6, there is shown a preferred embodiment for lifting and rotating a container C having particularly heavy loads. since the power requirements for the lifting hydraulic cylinder 80 of FIGURES 1-5 are significantly less than the power requirements of the hydraulic drive lift of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5. The construction of the apparatus 200 shown in FIGURE 6 is generally similar to that of the apparatus 10 of `the FIGURES `l-S and therefore, it is believed that only a brief description of the embodiment of FIGURE 6 is needed.`

The apparatus 200 includes a horizontal base 202 which rests on a oor and maintains the apparatus 200 in a substantially upright position regardless of the relative position of the container C. A forward or first pair of upright trackl members 204 and a second or rearward pair of upright track members 206 are secured to the base 202. The rearward tracks 206 are positioned substantially intermediate of the base 202. The rigid spacing `between Itrack members 204 and 206 is maintained by a lower brace 208. an intermediate brace 210 and an upper brace 212. A carriage 214, similar in construction to the 4carriage 32 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5 is movably sup-` t This embodiment is preferred` v ported by the track members 204 and 206. Forward and upward wheels 216 are carried by the forward upright track members 204 while the rearward upright tracks 206 movably carry a pair of lower rearward wheels 2218 and a pair of upper rearward wheels 220. The rearward wheels 21 8 and 220 are rotatably carried by a U-shaped frame 221 which is movable in the rearward upward track members 206. The U-frame 221 pivotally carries the carriage 214 about the pivoting assembly 226 so that the container C is carried centrally of the rear tracks 206. A container holder 224, in turn, is pivotally carried by the carriage assembly 21'4 about the pivot point 227. The container holder 224 is similar in construction to the holder 54 of FIGURES 1-5 and is a rigid welded frame.

The forward upright track members 204 include a right angled curved portion 222 having a forwardly projecting straight portion 232. The purpose of the right angle curve, as will be hereinafter explained in greater detail, permits the initial rotation of the carriage 214, container holder 224 and container C.

'In order to effect the upward movement of the U-shaped frame 221, the carriage 214, the container holder 2,24, and the container C, hydraulic cylinder drive means 228 are provided and are rigidly secured t-o the base 202 at 230. The hydraulic cylinder means 228 are in close proximity to the rearward track members 206 and intermediate the track members 204 and 206. The drive cylinder 228 is also positioned centrally of the container C. The hydraulic drive cylinder assembly y228 is similar in construction to the hydraulic cylinder drive means 80 of the embodiment of FIGURES 15 and includes a pair of chain members 236 which are secured at one end to a xedsupport, as the base 202, and at the other end to the U-shaped frame member 221.

In operation, the piston rod of the cylinder 228 moves upwardly, the rearward wheels 218 and 220 move in the rearward track members 206 while the forward wheels 216 move in the forward track members 204. When the forward and upper wheels 216, which are rotatably carried by the carriage 2:14, reach the right angled curve portion 222 of the forward tracks 204, the forward wheels move outwardly in the straight portion 232, while the rearward wheels 2'18 and 220 continue their upward movement since they are rotatably carried by the U-shaped frame 221. Therefore, the carriage 214 pivots about the pivot assembly 226 in order to provide the desired initial tipping of the carriage 214, the container holder 224 and the container C. When the forward wheels 216 reach the forward end of the straight portion 232 of the right angle curve 222, the hydraulic cylinder drive means 228 is stopped and the eXtensible hydraulic cylinder drive means 234 are started in order to effect the pivoting of the container holder 224 and container C about the pivot 227 so as to permit pivoting movement thereof with respect to the carriage 214 which remains in a tipped position. The hydraulic cylinder drive means 234 are similar in construction to the hydraulic cylinder drive means y94 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5; the hydraulic cylinder drive means 234 are eXtensibly connected between the carriage 214 and the container holder 224 and provide for complete inversion of the container C following the initial tipping of the container C by the hydraulic cylinder drive means 228.

The embodiment of FIGURE 6 is particularly useful when particularly heavy loads are in the container C since the center of gravity remains substantially in alignment with the lifting hydraulic cylinder 228 at all times in view of the substantial centering of the load with respect to the rearward tracks 206 and to the lifting drive means 228. For this reason, power requirements for the embodiment of FIGURE 6 are less than the power requirements of the embodiment of FIGURES l-S and the embodiment of FIGURE 6 is particularly useful for inverting exceptionally heavy loads.

While in the foregoing there has lbeen provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Inverting apparatus for emptying the contents of a container having an open upper end, said apparatus comprising a base, a pair of spaced upright parallel tracks each having an arcuate upper portion and mounted on said base, a support member having vertically spaced roller means a-t-one side thereof movably carried by said tracks, a container holding frame rotatably mounted on said support member on a horizontal axis, drive means secured to said base for lifting and also partially rotating said support member, said holding frame and said container by moving the same along said tracks until at least the upper ones of said roller means traverse said arcuate upper portions and drive means for rotating said holding frame and said container with respect to said support member in order to substantially completely invert said container in order to empty the contents thereof.

2. Inverting apparatus for emptying the contents of a container having an open upper end, said apparatus comprising a ybase, a pair of spaced upright parallel tracks mounted on said base, said tracks having an arcuate upper portion, a support member movably mounted on said tracks, vertically spaced roller members rotatably carried by said support member and engaging said tracks for guiding the movement of said support member therealong, a container holder frame rotatably mounted on said support member, drive means xedly mounted with respect to said base and being connected to said support member for lifting said support member, said container holding frame, and said container upwardly along said tracks and also for causing partial rotation thereof as at least the upper ones of said roller members move along the arcuate portion of said tracks, and extensible hydraulic cylinder drive means connected at one end to said support member and at the other end to said container holding frame for completing the rotation of said holding frame and said container so that said container is substantially completely inverted so that the contents are emptied from the container.

3. Inverting apparatus for emptying the contents of a container having an open upper end, said apparatus cornprsing forward upright guide means, rearward upright guide means rigidly spaced from said first upright guide means, said forward upright guide means having a forwardly extending arcuate portion, a frame movably carried by said rearward upright guide means, support means movably mounted on and guided by said upright guide means, means for rotatably mounting said support means on said frame and means for rotatably mounting said container centrally of said rearward upright guide means on said support means, means for raising said frame, said support means, and said container on both said upright guide means and for only partially rotating said support means, and said container by causing movement thereof through the arcuate portion of said forward track members to less than a desired angle of rotation, said container being centrally mounted on said raising means, and means mounted on said support means for completing the lrotation of said container to said desired angle of rotation ifrvhereby the contents of said container are emptied there- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,183 11/1903 Head 214-707 1,028,762 6/1912 Lutze. 2,236,310 3/ 1941 Deal 214-707 X 2,829,789 4/ 1958 Gerhardt et al 214-315 2,851,178 9/1958 Rea et al 214-313 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. INVERTING APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING THE CONTENTS OF A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF SPACED UPRIGHT PARALLEL TRACKS EACH HAVING AN ARCUATE UPPER PORTION AND MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED ROLLER MEANS AT ONE SIDE THEREOF MOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID TRACKS, A CONTAINER HOLDING FRAME ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS, DRIVE MEANS SECURED TO SAID BASE FOR LIFTING AND ALSO PARTIALLY ROTATING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID HOLDING FRAME AND SAID CONTAINER BY MOVING THE SAME ALONG SAID TRACKS UNTIL AT LEAST 